We've all seen neat Flash text-based animations and other effects, such as those found at TxEff.com, that have become increasingly more complex and attractive. However, in most cases, you'll find that these animations are built on proprietary systems, and usually require you to pay on a per-effect basis (though TxEff has moved to a more package-oriented pricing structure). This is very disappointing for developers who would like to create their own unique effects while on a budget or time crunch.

Recently, rather than shop through different canned effects, I spent a few days writing a free, open-source Actionscript text engine that provides all the foundations required to do these kinds of effects, all while retaining the ability to modify the text in real-time. It’s not a package for non-coders looking for a drop-and-publish effect, but rather for developers who would like to include such effects in their projects but don't have time to code out the comprehensive engine required to maintain complete functionality. The engine doesn't include any pre-built effects, but rather acts as a platform to enable a developer to quickly and creatively design the necessary effects.

The text engine is compatible with Flash Player 9 and newer releases, and we plan to make it available for free under a non-restrictive license soon.

 

 

Over the years, Flash has gained a lot of notoriety. Originally conceived as a simple way to transmit animations online, it has evolved into a phenomenon that is arguably even greater than the sum of its many parts.

At the turn of the century, when Flash was struggling to stand on its own, small groups of devotees formed around the technology. Many of these people weren’t programmers at all, but came from diverse backgrounds. As a result, Flash benefited from an explosion of creativity, and some of the results were incredible.

The Flash we know today delivers the latest and greatest RIA, elegant video playback solutions and even SEO-optimized (yes, we do SEO) content. But what about the fun stuff? As a die-hard Flash designer, all I want to do is spend hours  geeking out on a cool project I can post online to show my friends. Just like the good ol’ days.

I’m not the only one who shares this sentiment. Keith Peters of BIT-101 remembers those artistic times, too. But instead of just blogging about nostalgia, he created a contest that adheres to the most popular format of that era: The 25 Line Actionscript contest. The idea is simple: Write 25 lines of code on frame 1 of an empty project and hit compile. No external images/reference calls, no pre-drawn graphics.

These contests drew a large following back in the day, and the most recent iterations are no exception. November’s challenge drew over 100 entries, and sparking enough interest to turn it into a monthly event.

Clicking through some of the recent entries, I was reminded that everything I do doesn’t need to be the next big thing, but rather a reflection of style and ability. It also reminded me that it’s fun to do things just for the sake of doing them.

So I entered the contest (entry 032). I didn’t win. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I had fun, and learned a thing or two in the process.

Are you having fun?